Ron Knol

Imagine that you are the only house on the block that does not have a security system and the signage that denotes it.  If a burglar has to make a choice as to which home to break into, your non-secured home will likely be the primary choice.  

The same logic applies to ministries without screening protocol.  Which church is most likely to attract the sexual predator?  As more and more charities and ministries implement screening protocol, your church (if it has no such protocol) will be more likely to attract the prowling of predators.

Screening is only a minor part of a proper Safe Church Policy but it is crucial (ask your insurer).  It won't stop the first-time offender but it will severely limit the likelihood of repeat offences.  

I've been a church musician for over 35 years (organ, piano, praise team) and have sadly observed the decline of congregational singing.  I agree with the majority of the online article.  In addition, however, I wonder why we've overlooked the fact that many of our congregants can actually read music or can at least understand the basics of how musical notes show us how, what and when to sing.  The lack of viewable musical notation restricts our ability to learn a new song (or remember a forgotten one).  When only the words are posted on the screen, it often makes for nice poetry... and confused singing.  

As a musician, I used to be able to stop playing in the middle of a familiar song and listen to our congregation sing acapella in 4 part harmony and, because the notes were in front of the members, the 4 parts were 4 parts.  We didn't have 8 versions of an improvised tenor line, with 6 "guesses" as to what the alto should sound like.  The absence of notes restricts our ability to learn new music, to sing harmony in harmony, and places far too much emphasis on the leadership of the musician or music team.  As a result, our teams/musicians are forced to "perform" as opposed to "accompany" -- a big difference!  I believe that worship would be enhanced  if churches project the actual musical score (even if it's only a melody line) or, when appropriate, refer to a hymnal.  Teams  can teach new songs and musicans can "lead" congregations through unfamiliar ones but, without the common map that notes provide, chaos, confusion, frustration and apathetic singing are more likely to occur.

When I joined a law partnership many years ago, the senior partner gave me a note that read "If all 4 of us always agree, 3 of us are unnecessary".  I think this is a great rule to keep in mind when serving on Council, attending Classis or Synod, or any committee.  Disagreements (when honourably presented) can lead to discussions that can reinforce the primary opinion or revise it or prove it to be wrong (leading to a better solution, hopefully).   At the very least, you'll get a good idea, in advance, of what the possible objections to a majority decision may be.  At the very best, a disagreement can show you where you're wrong.  I've had many years of experience where another person's honourable presentation of an opposing opinion has led me to realize how wrong I was (and I'm not just referring to my wonderful marriage).

If nobody is disagreeing, one might even consider appointing somebody to present an opposing opinion.  In order to clarify and test their decisions, the Roman Catholic Church leaders used to appoint what was called a "devil's advocate" to provide the opposing arguments to the proposed canonization of a saint. 

And, when I find myself in an unending disagreement, I find myself quoting the words my father often used to end our numerous discussions.  "You could be right".

Daniel, your comment on "learning to truly listen" is 100% correct!  When I practiced law, I often would "listen" with the sole intent of providing a rebuttal or contrary opinion.  More recently I served on the Restorative Justice Task Force of our classis and was invited to join in on a "Listening Circle" where, one by one, each person expressed their opinion... but nobody was invited (or allowed) to respond directly to that person's opinion.   It truly was "listening" since your mind was freed up from the "How do I respond to that?" conundrum.  I found it to be quite rewarding!  I would suggest that, when honourably expressed disagreements still result in personal tension or strife (and that can happen despite the best intentions), a listening circle may restore peace in the valley again..   I wish I had learned of it earlier in my life.

For those that think a church budget is a "money-grabber", they should realize that a church budget is not simply another "Ask for Money"; it's an "Opportunity for Ministry" and thus, a means by which we can answer God's call. I would encourage all churches to adopt a narrative budget format so that those opportunities are easier for congregants to understand and support.

"What we receive in life is God's gift to us.  What we do with it is our gift back."

There are some great stewardship books out on the market.  I particularly enjoyed the book "Three Simple Rules" by Theo A. Boers which contains the following suggested rules:

1.  Spend less than you earn. 2.  Save now! Buy later. 3.  Know Debt!

I've shared this book with many people and most of us end up wondering why we didn't read it (or truly know its principles) when we were in our twenties.  The rules seem simple but most of us don't really know how much we actually make (what is our net disposable income?) and thus we may be spending more than we earn. When young people figure out that their $12/hour wage nets out at $1.50 per hour (after charity, rent, food, insurance, tax, interest payment on credit card etc.), they may wish to reconsider purchasing the $150 blue jeans (are they really worth 2 1/2 weeks of work?)

Most of us don't really know what our savings are and many of us are relying on anticipated inheritances as part of our retirement plan.

And, most of us don't appreciate how much that debt is really costing us. In Canada, credit card companies must disclose more of the impact.  My last credit card statement indicated that, if all I did was pay the minimum monthly payment, it would take 43 years and 1 month to pay off the $2,300 balance.  We all need to have more lessons on how to KNOW DEBT!  

When I talk with seniors in our community, I often hear about an envelope budget system.  Every month, take your paycheque and divide it amongst several envelopes.  One for church, one for food, one for clothing, one for household repairs/utilities, one for entertainment, etc. .  If an envelope is empty before the end of the month, you'll have to figure out which other envelope to "borrow" from.  Whether these envelopes are actual paper envelopes with cash in them or are columns in an Excel spreadsheet, the system will definitely help you learn how to spend less than you earn.  One senior couple that I know used this system ended up using a mortgage only on their first house, paid Christian school tuition for all their kids (and helped them with college), retired comfortably and supported Kingdom Work throughout that time.  

John, there's a great quote "Anyone can write a cheque".  It's the people on the front line of ministry that impress me.  When a teacher works at a Christian school and, by doing so, accepts a salary that is 1/3 less than a public school counterpart, I'm impressed with their gift.  After all, they could work at a public school and simply tithe. When somebody realizes that it's the ministry, not the paycheque, that makes their work precious (whether that's carring for kids or helping in the church, etc.), then I'm impressed and I, as a deacon, wouldn't be hitting on them too hard if they weren't contributing $$ as expected on a "per member" basis.  

"A tithe is a very good place to start".   But any couple's current life situation will affect their ability to give back to God.  A young couple with 4 kids vs. an "empty-nest" working couple vs. retired seniors...  In some cases, the person's ministry work is the gift to God and that choice of ministry may mean that they are already giving 50% to ministry work (assuming they could make twice the pay in the secular world).

God's ministries should, however, receive "first fruits", not left-overs.  I've actually heard people complain that the increase in a church or school budget will affect their ability to vacation in Hawaii (and I've quietly reminded them that camping at the lake was their parents' idea of a good vacation... while they paid Christian school tuition and supported the church faithfully)

I've read that Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life" has mentioned that, with the financial rewards of his publication success, he and his wife have been able to move to a "reverse tithe".... giving 90% and living quite comfortably on the remaining 10%

I met one person who had what he called a "tithe tax".  He contributed to church budgets as required but, every time he bought something extravagant, he would forward a gift to Kingdom Work equivalent to 10% of that purchase price.  He told me that if I ever saw him in a Ferrari, I'd know that some ministry also received a great gift.

If you do believe in a tithe, a good question is to figure out what percentage that actually is.  For my wife & I (living in Alberta and paying annual income taxes), we receive a 50% tax credit for every dollar we give annually to charity (after we've given at least $200 in the year).  So, at that point, a tithe (for tax-paying Albertans) is 20%.  If our income was $100,000, our tithe would be $20,000 since we'd get a tax credit of nearly $10,000 tax refund.  If we were retired, without taxable income, that tax credit would be useless and our tithe calculation would require adjustment.

It's a great checklist.  However, I'd add the following "must do" item if the outing or retreat is off-site.  INSPECT THE SITE!!.  It may be that the lodge or camp that you wish to use is not safe.  A pre-inspection is a very good idea.  For example, if cleaning chemicals are stored in unlocked cabinets, if furnace rooms are unlocked, if too many rooms are easily accessible but without windows, you may be bringing your charges to an unsafe area and the best supervision in the world may not be enough.  And, of course, check to see if your insurer will cover you for off-site activities; some don't.  And finally, if the off-site activity involves an activity that is outside of the normal risk-zone for church group activities (e.g. zip line), have the parents sign a release specifically related to that particular retreat that specifically details the potential dangers.  The one-size-fits-all release that is often signed at the beginning of the season may be far too generic.

Many years ago, I attended Synod and was surprised at how the interaction of delegates outside of the formal sessions (around the firepit, so to speak) led to a wonderful exchange of wisdom.  The senior pastors could advise the rookies, the new elders received help from the old-timers, etc.  Synod itself was invaluable but so was the "networking".  If we network, we get to learn by other's mistakes and successes instead of being limited to learning solely from our own experience.  There is no sin in synergism and this Network is a prime example of synergism.   No, we won't always agree but, as one of my business partners told me, if the 3 of us always agree, 2 are unnecessary (a good tip for Council meetings as well).  I wish more people were made aware of this CRC asset and I think those of us that are aware should champion the cause.  I (and my wife) are sincerely hoping there are countless other contributors who can smarten me up even further.

I've been blessed with the opportunity to work on several Classis committees and have attended Synod as well.  I find that potential of Classes is under-utilized.  "There's no Sin in Synergism" is something we should, at the congregational level and at Synod, realize. Pretend, for a moment, that our governments suddenly required each and every congregation to have a brand new policy in writing about the use of kitchen facilities in each church building.  For Synod to attempt to accomplish this would be a waste of valuable time and jurisdictionally impossible.  (It's hard enought to get BC and Alberta law to coincide, let alone American and Canadian... and we won't talk about Quebec for now).  For each congregation to start from scratch is an enormouse waste of talent and energy. However, if each Classis were to set up an ad hoc committee to create a jurisdictionally correct draft policy for their member churches (and perhaps share it with out Classes), the result would be efficiency.  CRC Canada did this on a national basis when new privacy legislation came into effect and the Canadian office sent out a precedent that each Canadian Classis and church could rely on it (with minor modification).

I'm a member of a Classis that is incorporated, has its own charitible status, has its own endowment fund (capable of providing long-term support to Classis ministries outside of ministry shares),  has insurance coverage for volunteers/staff and can provide secondary coverage to its member congregations, has its own Safe Church policy and team, has a Pastor-Church relations staff member, has a Restorative Justice Task Force, etc.   The member congregations benefit, as requested and/or needed, and increased efficiency at the Classis level benefits Synod as well, I suspect. 

The fact that most of our Classes have a Safe Church team assists the CRCNA Safe Church ministry.  The fact that only 2(?) of our Classes have a Classis Pastor-Church relations contact means that the CRCNA staff may easily become overburdened and, at the very least, have an awful lot of expensive travel to do.

Enhancement of Classis will not take control away from member churches.  It will however provide efficiency and cost-effectiveness and those are 2 of the essentials of Stewardship.

A quote that I've often reminded people of is that "there is no sin in synergism".  When a Classis does it's job right, it is the connector and amplifier of the various ministries provided by its congregations and, in some cases, becomes the medium through which such a ministry can either exist or be enhanced.  As far as the lack of knowledge amongst congregations as to what Classis does (or can do), I encourage the Classis to utilize narrative budgets that tell the story of how last year's funds amplified the effect of ministries, how the funds enabled education of office bearers and/or employees and coordinated the efforts of congregational teams (such as Safe Church).  That narrative budget should also tell the story of how next year's funds will be utilized.

If something new comes up (e.g. new legislation, amendments to Church Order, opportunities to serve, etc.) Classis can provide necessary references or can coordinate re-education connections for the ministries of the various congregations.  If synodical ministries need to connect with congregations, the Classis can be the conduit.

Classis needs to tell its story and show the good news that results from an effective Classis.

My wife and I consider our payment of ministry shares to Classis AB North to be an "investment" (with a great return), not an expense and the cost of our investment works out to be less than the cost of going out for coffee weekly.  I wish they were asking for more since I know how good the rate of return can be.